Kava kava (Piper methysticum), also called the ava pepper and the intoxicating pepper, is a shrub that belongs to the pepper family (Piperaceae). Naturally occurring in Australia, Polynesia and the South Sea Islands, native cultures have long used the rhizomes, or roots, of kava kava plants to treat various health ailments.
Plant Characteristics
The kava kava shrub reaches several feet high and bears a thick mass of large green leaves. The heart-shaped foliage contrasts nicely with the long, thin flowers that appear where the stems and the branches meet. The roots of the kava kava shrub look like bunches of hairy branches. These rhizomes have a pleasant aroma but taste a bit bitter.
History
The indigenous South Pacific Island cultures have long used the kava kava herb to make intoxicating drinks. The natives mashed or chewed the kava kava root into a pulp and mixed it with coconut milk or water. The resulting beverage was consumed before important religious rites and political ceremonies. The tradition of serving kava kava drinks to visiting dignitaries continues even today.
Uses
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) reports that kava kava roots contain the primary active ingredients of kawain and methysticcum. These resins might work to reduce the levels of chemical activity in the brain and the nervous system. This can help to promote sleepiness, relax tense muscles, lower anxiety levels and reduce convulsions. According to Botanical.com, kava kava can also help treat genitourinary problems, such as gonorrhea and vaginitis. This herb might even work as an aphrodisiac. Kava kava also has a diuretic effect and can be used to treat rheumatism and gout. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adds that kava kava sometimes effectively treats menopausal symptoms and works well as a numbing agent when applied topically.
Possible Interactions
NCCAM warns that the kava kava herb might interact with various medications, including those used to treat Parkinson's disease and anxiety. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that kava kava might increase the effects of anticonvulsant and diuretic medications.
Cautions
According to the NCCAM, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that taking kava kava supplements has been linked to severe liver damage, cirrhosis, hepatitis and dystonia, or muscle spasms. Several European countries have banned the sale of kava kava supplements. Botanical.com reports that consuming large amounts of kava kava can result in inflammation of the eyes and the development of leprous ulcers, which causes the skin to dry out and peel off the body in large scale-like flakes. MedlinePlus adds that chronic kava kava usage might also cause hypertension and neurotoxicity. UMMC states that chronic usage sometimes causes hair loss, hearing loss and loss of appetite.
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